Nishtha Agrawal
Lucknow: Under the leadership and guidance of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, the Department of Applied Science and Humanities, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow University, successfully hosted the grand inauguration of the international conference “Recent Advances in Applied Science and Humanities in the Evolution of Engineering (RAASHEE ’25)” at Vishwakarma Auditorium. The event witnessed the participation of distinguished academicians and researchers from across the country.
The inaugural ceremony commenced with the traditional lamp lighting and the university Kulgeet. This was followed by a warm welcome and felicitation of the chief guest, Prof. M. G. Thakkar, Director of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, along with distinguished guests, including Prof. R. P. Chhabra, Former Professor at IIT Kanpur, and Purvashish Chakraborty, AGM, UCO Bank. Prof. A. K. Singh, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, honored them with floral bouquets and mementos.
In his welcome address, Prof. A. K. Singh emphasized the synergy between science and humanities. He remarked, “Science gives us wings, and humanities give us direction. Today’s era is not just about technological advancement but also about growth with human values.”
Distinguished guest Prof. Raj P. Chhabra from IIT Kanpur delivered an inspiring speech, stating that science inherently has no boundaries, and existing classifications are merely for convenience. His quote, “People meet, ideas multiply; they don’t just add up,” resonated deeply with the audience.
The chief guest, Prof. M. G. Thakkar, provided a comprehensive perspective on engineering evolution. He highlighted concerns regarding sustainable development and climate change, stressing the need to prioritize Earth’s well-being over Mars exploration. He also underlined the ethical considerations in technological development and advocated for recognizing Earth as a living entity.
Dr. Deepak Gupta, convener of “RAASHEE ’25,” expressed gratitude to the guests, and the inaugural session concluded with the national anthem.
First Academic Session
The first academic session focused on subjects such as Physics, Chemical Sciences, Mathematics, and Humanities.
Physics Track: Chaired by Prof. Satendra Pal Singh from Lucknow University, the session featured insightful lectures by Prof. Ajit M. Srivastava on gravitational wave discoveries, Prof. Vishal Chandel on CeO2 applications, Prof. Praveen Kumar on energetic ion beams, and Dr. Santu Mandal on heavy-ion collisions.
Chemical Sciences Track: Under the chairmanship of Prof. R. S. Chandel, Dr. Manisha Shukla delivered a lecture on 2D NMR, while Dr. Rituraj Mishra discussed SPEN GNAT.
Mathematics Track: Led by Prof. Rajendra Prasad, the session included lectures by Dr. Bibek Kumar Singh, Prof. Anil Kumar, and Dr. Sapna Devi.
Humanities Track:
- First Session: Chaired by Prof. Binod Mishra, discussions revolved around Rasa theory and tribal literature.
- Second Session (Humanities & Management): Chaired by Prof. Amitabh Roy, Prof. Praveen Sahu spoke on green marketing, while Dr. Sanobar Siddiqui presented on sustainability reporting.
Following a tea break, a novel reading session was conducted by Akshay Sharma and Dr. Bharti Rai at Vishwakarma Auditorium. Simultaneously, the second Mathematics session, chaired by Prof. Masood Hussain Siddiqui, featured an online keynote lecture by Prof. Sudhir Kumar Srivastava from DDU Gorakhpur University, highlighting the contributions of ancient Indian mathematicians. Topics such as quantum computing, digital image encryption, and water quality analysis were also discussed.
The day concluded with a vibrant cultural program at Vishwakarma Auditorium, celebrating the fusion of science, technology, and humanities.
